Automatic eire-extinguishing apparatus



R. L. McELROY AND J. E. SHEPHERD.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1917.

1,325,647. Patented Dec; 23,1919.

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.9; W W M pairs STATES PATENT orrica,

ROBERT L. MOELROY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND JOHN E. SHEPHERD, OF UNIVERSITY,

. VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTING-UISHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters vRatent.

Application filed March 19, 1917. Serial No. 155,661.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT L. MoELnoY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, and JOHN E. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at University, in the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sprinkler-head fire-extinguishing tank and pipe-line systems, or" non-freezing form, wherein the fluid or iiuids to be discharged into the fire-zone are maintained under constant pressure; and

discharged only upon the release of normally closed thermal sprinkler-nozzles, of any suitable form.

One object of our invention is to prov de an automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus of the pipe and sprinkler automatically actuated form, by the use of which three or more fluid bodies each of a difierent composition, and having a different fire-extinguishing ciliciency and a different elfect as to damage of goods or material, held in suitable sepa rate tanks, may be successively discharged upon the fire zone; the fluid first to be discharged, being usually a suitable fluid, nonfreezing, at ordinary temperatures; preferably such as carbon tetrachlorid; the sprinkler and feed pipes being, normally filled withair or with the non-freezing fiuid, or a combination of both.

Another object is to discharge all the fluid from each of the several tanks one by one in sequence; no tank starting to empty until its predecessor has been completely emptied.

The purpose of this is to permit the extingui hing of small .fires by the relatively very costly extinguishing fluid of the small tank, which fluic is not injurious to the goods, for instance silk, that are being protected. If the first tank fails to extinguish the fire, a

econd tank of less costly fluid is discharged,

and lastly water is discharged. Heretofore.

in small fires, the damage from water was usually greater than the damage from fire; but with our invention the only damage in the case of small fires is the actual fire damage.

Another object is to maintain a constant but different pressure in each of the tanks,

by suitable means or mechanism automatically put into operation upon increase or decrease of pressure to certain points'beyond the normal, to bring the pressure to the required normal point; and to provide signaling means for indicating any abnormal departure from the normal pressure.

Another object is to provide means for Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

electrically heating the contents of the various tanks, so as to prevent freezing in cold weather, put into and out of operation automatically by electric thermostatic apparatus.

And a further object is to provide auto matically actuated means for chemically increasing the pressure in any or all of the tanks, upon the pressure therein falling below a predetermined point.

And it is cvidentthat there are many other advantages .and capabilities in our invention herein set forth, not necessary to be further referred to herein;

' 'Our said invention is disclosed, described and claimed in the following specification, of which the drawing, consisting of two figures and one sheet, forms a part, wherein similar letters or numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts of our said invention, wherever found.

Figure 1 is a front view .of our invention partly in vertical section.

Fig. 2, is a detail View of contact plates comprised in our invention.

Referring to the drawing In such drawing the reference letter A designates the non-freeZing-fluid pressuretank or receptacle first to be dischar ed,

usually and preferably filled with car on tetrachlorid; B is the second like tank to be discharged, usually filled with bicarbonate of soda solution well known in the art; and C is the third and last'tank, preferably filled with water, which is constantly supplied therewith as emptied through an inlet pipe used,' but as indicated in the drawing the tank A first to be discharged may havean air pressure of say 60 lbs. per square inch, the second tank B, a pressure or 50 lbs. and the third tank C of the water therein, and

other tanks of less pressure may if desired be included in the system, between tanks 13 and C.

The tank A is provided with an outletpipe 7, and the tank 13 with an outlet-pipe 8, each in communication with the leader pipe 1, in communication with the outletpipe 5 of the tank C, communicating with the sprinkler pipe 6, having the automatic sprinkler heads E, of any desired shape, number and term, and of course any suitable number of such pipes 6, located in many dii erent compartments or rooms, may be connected with the delivery or outlet pipe 5, as may be necessary for full fire protection.

The tank B is pr vided between the outlet pipe 8 and the leader pipe l with an automatic check-valve 8, usually of the hinge dropd orm, indicated, and the pipe 5 of the tank C is provided between the pipe a, and the pipe 5 of the tank C with a similar valve 7. The tank A is provided within the same with an electric heating coil F, (as are also the tanks B and C) and leading from one end of the heating-coil F is an electric conductor-wire 9, connecting through a hand switch 10 and conductor wire 9 with a battery or other source of electric energy H, having a return wire 11, connecting with the automatic solenoid-switch I, through which the current returns to the heating coil F by way 01 the wire 12. Connected with the electric circuit wire 11 by way of an electro magnet K, and wire 14;, is an electro-thermostatic circuit making and breaking device L, usually in the form of a mercurial thermometer-tube bent at a right angle and hav ing its bulb 13 located within the tank adj acent to the bottom, which thermostat is also connected with the wire 9, as indicated at L, which wire 9 so long as the temperature remains at the proper point, is out of contact with the mercury column, and-the heat ing coil F is energized by way of the contact I and vibrating switchqnember I, but upon such mercurial closing of the circuit the magnet K being energized will draw the vibrating armature or switch-lever or member 1 into the position shown, so as to break the circuit through theheating-coil F, by way of the wire 12, switch lever I, contact I, and wire 11, and such circuit will remain so broken, no matter how highthe mercury may go. But upon a fall of temperature so that the mercury falls below the wire 9, the circuit being broken, and the magnet K disenergized, the armatureswitch-member I will fall by gravity into contact with the contact I, (tanks A and B) thus energizing and heating the coil F, by

way 01" the wires 11, 9, 9, 12 and 11, until the mercury column again closes the circuit and energizes the magnet K, by contacting with the wire 9.

Each of the other tanks, in this case, is in like manner provided with like heating coils F, thermostatic and variable electriccontacts and circuits similar to the one for tank A just described, and all energized from the same battery or source of electric energy H, as clearly indicated in the drawing.

The tank C is in communication with the atmosphere at the top, and is kept filled to the dotted line a-a'through a teed-pipe D, cut oil by a float-valve D, when the water reaches the desired height.

In communication with each of the closed tanks A and B at the top, is a suitable doubleacting automatic electric-circuit make and break device M, of any suitable desired form; which will close one circuit by movement in one direction, and another circuit by movement in another; according as the pressure in the tank rises above or falls below the normal, so as to actuate an alarm signal in either case, and when actuated by pressure :Eall to set in operation an a' pressure pump or other means for returning the pressure to normal. Such electric make and break device is usually in the form of a Bourdon-tube 16, of the usual type, in communication with the tank at 16, which tube is connected with the wire 11 by way ot' the wire 17, which wire 11 is connected with one pole of the battery H, and through the wires 9 and 17, with the electric signalbell 18, connecting by the wire 19, with the electric plate 20. Such Bourdon tube forming a make and break electric switch-member when the pressure in the tank is normal, is out of contact with both contactplates 20 and 20; and it will be seen that upon an abnormal rise in pressure within the tank beyond the normal to be maintained therein, that this rise tending to straighten such Bourdon-tube, it will be thrust out to ward the right of the figure so as to contact with the plate 20 which will close the circuit, consisting of such Bourdon-tube 16,.

upper contact plate 20 and a lower contact.

plate 9.2, the lower contact-plate 22 being connected with the contact plate 20 by a circuit wire while the upper contactplate 20 is connected by the wire 21 with the motor N, the other pole of which is connected by the wire 21 with the wire 9; wnereby upon the lowering of the pressure within the tank below normal to a certain point, the inward retraction of the Bourdon tube 16, will close the circuit both through the upper and the lower plates and 22, whereby the circuit of the bell before described, which gives the alarm signal for the rise in pressure will be energized by way of the contact plate 20 and the circuit before described; and at the same time the motor-circuit comprised by the wire 21, motor LT, wire 21, battery H,wires 9, 17 and the Bourdon-tubes will be closed and will energize and start the motor N, so as to actuate the air pressure-pump l so as to increase the pressure in the tank, until the consequent straightening of the Bourdon tube, will break the contact so as to stop such motor; but I have not deemed it essential to show more in detail the double contact plate and switch 20, as such contacts are well 7 known in the electric art.

The tank B as before stated, is preferably filled to about the water line shown with a bicarbonate of soda solution of the constituency well known in the art; and secured in the top of the tank is a frangible acid container 0, usually of glass the tank A, hav ing a similar container 0 operating in the same manner, sealed at the top, in which a suitable quantity of sulfuric or other suitable acid is contained, and reciprocating; in and through the top 30 of such acid container 0, is a plunger-rod 31, having formed integral with or secured thereto the collar or flange 32, and provided at the top with a retaining lug 33, such rod usually passing through a journal-plate 34. Adjacent to the upper end of such plunger-rod is an electro-magnet 35, having a solenoidrod 36 reciprocating horizontally therein, and when in looking position having its outer end underneath the retaining-lug 33 of the plunger rod 31, so as to maintain such plunger-rod in position against the tension of the spring 37, interposed between the journal-plate 34:, and the flange 32, which normally tends to force such plungerrod downward into the acid receptacle or bottle 0.

Locating in the top of the receptacle or tank B, is a circuit making and breaking device 38 usually of the form, shown comprising a lower pipe in communication with the tank member 37, upon which is superposed an upper cap-member 38, in communication with the atmosphere; between which memhers is interposed a pressure actuated diaphragm 39 of any suitable metal, usually bowed outward at the center .as shown, the tank A being provided with a similar diaphragm, 39, differently placed, operating in the-same manner, the edges of which diaphragm are insulatingly secured between the flanges of 37 and 33; and within the lower pipe-member 37, is an electric contact memher 40 (usually of the upwardly extending point-form indicated) in electrical connection with a circuit-wire All, in connection with the wire 11 and through the battery H, wires 9 and 43, coil35, and wire 42, with the insulated pressure actuated diaphragm 39;

and the diaphragm 39 is an electrical connection, by a wire 42 with a solenoid-coil 35, which in its turn is in connection by a wire -13. And it will be seen that by this construction, when the pressure in the tank falls below a certain predetermined pointto which the diaphragm 39 is set as against the eXterior, atmospheric pressure, upon the upper and exterior face, such diaphragm will be forced downward into contact with the point contact-member 40, whereby the circuit just described being closed, the magnet 35 will draw in the solenoid-rod 36, whereby the plunger-rod 31 being released, the spring 37 will throw the same downward with sufficient force to break out the bottom of the frangible acid-receptacle or bottle 0; whereupon the acid being released into the tank, and combining with the bicarbonate of soda held in solution, will immediately raise the pressure suiiicient to force the contents of such tank out through the delivery pipes, upon the fire-zone.

It will also be seen that this release of the plunger-rod and breaking of the acid bottle can only occur, when pressure in the tank has been reduced below a predetermined point to which the diaphragm 39 is set, which reduction of pressure takes place upon the opening of one or more of the sprinkler heads E.

The tank A, the content of which is the first to be released, and which preferably is filled with carbon tetrachlorid up to about the point indicated by the line 1-1, has preferably superposed and floating upon such body of carbon tetra-chlorid designated by A, a body of soda bicarbonate aqueous solution similar to that contained in the tank B, and such solution being lighter than the carbon tetra-chlorid; and neither the water nor the soda-bicarbonate being chemically combinable, no-r miscible therewith, such soda solution will float in a body upon the top of such tetrachlorid. And this tank A being also provided with an acid-chamber'O, electric-diaphragm, contact, solenoid-plunger retaining rod, etc., connected in circuit with the battery or source of electric energy, and with an air-pump N actuated by amotor N, Bourdon tube, signalbell 18, and the various electric circuits, etc., will be actuated in precisely the same manner as that hereinbefore described with reference to tank B. The pump N, during the discharge from the remaining tanks continues running until stopped manually after the fire has ceased.

The tank C is supplied with water through a pipe D, the delivery end of which preterably extends nearly to the bottom of such tank, which is connected with a suitable pressure water supply-source (not shown), such as the city main, etc, with which it is in constant communication so as to keep the water level at a constant level irrespective of conditions by means of a cut-on float valve D, of any suitable form of construction.

The Bourdon tubes M, it will at once be seen, may have pressure indicating-dials and intervening mechanism actuated by the same without interfering with their capacity for forming the double electric contacts, but as such mechanism is well known, I have not deemed it essential to show or describe the same herein; and for purposes of safety, the closed tanks A and B, are usually provided with suitable reliet safety-valves to prevent bursting by over-pressure The operation of the device is as tol lows Upon the breaking out of fire in any of the compartments in which the sprinkler heads and pipes E are located, (which heads usually open at a temperature of 155 upon the release or one or more sprinklerheads, the pressure in tank A (say 60 lbs) will :torce the carbon tetra-chlorid therein, out through pipes l and into the pipes 6 and out through the sprinkler-leads E. Should the electric apparatus for actuating the air-pump tail to supply the necessary pressure, the consequent falling pressure ill rele: the plunger-rod 31, through the action of solenoid and the acid in the receptacle 0 upon the shattering thereof, minglin with the soda-bicarbonate solution floating: on the bony of carbon tetra-chlorid, this will instantlv raise the pressure suiliciently to disch all the contents of the tank with suiiicient force through the sprinkler heads.

The normal. 60 pounds of pressure maintained in the tank :3, and in the pipes a, 5 and 6, with which the tank St is at all times in tree connminication, will keep such pipes filled with carbon tetra-chlorid, or trapped air, so as to prevent closing of same by 'lrcezin and the pressure in such pipes upon the rali'es T and S. will prevent release of the t is of and il hen all the contents of tank A have been thrown out, the

pressure will be practically still at 60 pounds; and when the pressure talls to or slightl below the pressure of tank manner, while the water level in the tank will be n'iaintained at practically the normal upon the dropping ot the float of the float-valve l), upon the first slight fall of a foot or so, whereby the feed pipe D will constantly replenish the tank until shut oil.

It will be seen that by reason of having a plurality of tanks, delivering fire extinguishing fluids, under diii'erent pressures; providin each of the tanks with means for heating; the same for preventing closing thereof by freezing (and in some cases to increase the pressure therein) also by proriding a plurality of means for maintaining the required pressures within the several tanks, combined with means for signaling abnormal rises or falls in pressure; in which apparatus there is first delivered upon the fire zone, a fire extinguishing fluid of high elhcienc but non-damaging to the most delicate goods, (such as carbon tetrachlorid), that it the fire is extinguished by this non-deleterious fluid, the somewhat eeleterious fluids contained in the s condary and tertiary tanks (such as soda bicarbonate solution and water) may be manually shut off to prevent the escape thereof, upon the goods in the fire-zone atter the fire has ceased. And in addition there being means of maintaining the proper pressures in each of the direct pressure tanks (viz. air-pump pressure; heat; and chemical combination :l it will. be practically impossible that all three would be out 0t action together at any given moment. y

it is evident that many changes and modifications in the construction, and arrange ment of the several parts of our improved fire extinguishing apparatus herein shown, may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

We claim 1. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks each adapted to contain a body oi. fire extinguishing fluid; means for automatically discharging the fluid in s ch tanks upon the fire-Zone successively and in sequence; and means for automatically maintaining each tank at all times under its particular required pressure, until completely emptied,

2 A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanirs each adapted to contain a bot y of fire extinguishing fluid; means for automatically discharging the fluid in such tanks upon the fire-Zone successively and in sequence; and means for automatically maintaining each tank at all times under its particular required pressu e, until completely emptied; the tank to e first discharged being under highest pres sure, and the tanks successively discharged beingunder lesser individual pressures; no tank of the lower pressures commencing to discharge until the tank of next higher pressure has been fully emptied.

3. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks each adapted to contain a body of fire extinguishing fluid; means for automatically discharging the iuid in such tanks upon the fire-zone successively and in sequence; an air-pump for maintaining the air-pressure in each tank at a required constant; power means for ac tuating the air-pump; and means for automatically setting the power means into op eration upon the tank pressure falling below a predetermined point.

4. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks each adapted to contain a body of fire extinguishing fluid; means for automatically discharging the fluid in such tanks upon the fire-Zone successively and in sequence; an air-pump for maintaining the air-pressure in each tank at a required constant; electric power means for actuating the air-pump; and means for automatically setting the power means into operation upon the tank pressure falling below a predetermined point.

5. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks each adapted to contain a body of fire extinguishing fluid; means for automatically discharging the fluid in such tanks upon the fire-Zone successively and in sequence; an air-pump for maintaining the air-pressure in each tank at a required constant; power means for actuating the air-pump; and means for automatically setting the power means into operation upon the tank pressure falling below a predetermined point, by the automatic closing of an electric-circuit.

6. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks each adapted to contain a body of fire extinguishing fluid; means for automatically discharging fluid in such tanks upon the fire-zone successively and in sequence; an air-pump for maintaining the air-pressure in each tank at a required constant; electric power means for actuating the air-pump; and means for antomatically setting the power means into operation upon the tank pressure falling below a predetermined point, by the automatic closing of an electric-circuit.

7. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a. plurality of tanks each adapted to contain a body of fire extinguishing-fluid; means for automatically discharging the fluid in such tanks upon the fire-zone successively and in sequence; and a plurality of mechanisms or means for automatically maintaining each tank at all times under its particular required pressure, until completely emptied.

8. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a plurality of tanks each adapted to contain a body of the extinguishing fluid;

and electrically operated means for automatically discharging the fluid in such tanks upon the fire-zone successively and sequence; the tank to be first discharged being under highest pressure; and the tanks succeedingly successively discharged being under lesser individual pressures; 110- tank of the lower pressures commencing discharge until the tank or" next higher pressure has bee-n fully emptied; a delivery pipe or pipes having normally closed automatic thermally actuated delivery-nozzles for delivering the fire-extinguishing fluid upon the firezone; a main delivery-pipe or pipes in free communication with the tank of highest pressure first to be discharged; a secondary-tank in communication with such main-delivery pipe or pipes by way of a discharge-pipe; a check-valve in the discharge-pipe of such secondary-tank which is under less pressure than the highest pressure tank; preventing flow from such secondary tank while under the pressure of the primary and highest pressure-tank a tertiary-tank under less pressure than the secondary-tank in communication with the main delivery-pipe; through a dischargepipe; and a check-valve in such discharge pipe, preventing discharge therefrom until the contents of the secondary-tank are fully discharged, and the pressure in the main delivery-pipe reduced below the pressure in the tertiarytank.

9. In an automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, a tank having a content of sodasolution; an air-pump for maintaining a constant air-pressure in the tank; an electric motor for actuating the air-pump; an electric supply connected with the motor through a normally broken electric circuit; an automatic circuit closing device closing the circuit so as to put the motor into 013-- cration upon the fall of pressure below a predetermined normal point; an acid reccptacle containlng acld, supported 1n the tank;

mechanism "for delivering the acid to the tank normally retained in position by an electric trip-mechanism; an electro-magnet releasing the trip upon being energized so as to cause the dischar e of the acid into the tank; an electric-circuit including an electric-supply; and a normally broken contact in the circuit closed upon the pressure falling below a predetermined point.

10. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, a closed tank or receptacle; an air-pump for maintaining a pressure in the tank; a motor for actuating the air-pump; a power supply for the motor; means automatically actuating upon the falling oi the pressure below, or its rising above, a predetermined point, for bringing the power supply into and out of connection with the motor, so as to maintain the pressure in the tank at a practical constant; an acid-container normadly out of communication with the tank; means for automatically delivering the acid into the tank upon the occasion of a fire; a. body of carbon-tetra-chlorid in the tank adapted to be discharged upon the fire-zone and a body of soda bicarbonate solution floating upon the carbon tetra-chlorid, which upon combining With the acid released Will expel the content of the tank by the pressure thereby generated.

ROBERT L. MoELROY. JOHN E. SHEPHERD. Witnesses:

CLARENCE LADD-DAVIS, H. D, PENNEY. 

